H.C. Starck Reports Decreased Sales Due to Economic Slowdown

H.C. Starck recently announced it has sustained its position in 2012 despite a more difficult market environment. The company achieved €862.9 million (~ $1,120 billion) in sales, compared to €883.2 million (~ $1,146 billion) in 2011. As of December 31, 2012, the company had 2,926 employees; in 2011, the company employed some 2,816 people.

“After a very strong fiscal year 2011, growth has slowed down in 2012,” said Andreas Meier, chairman of the Executive Board. “Especially in the second half of the year, the global economy cooled down and our customers were somehow reluctant to place new orders. Nevertheless, H.C. Starck was able expand its market position in all major industries, maintain its sales at the level of the previous year despite falling metal prices, and achieve the second-best result in the last 10 years.”
In 2012, H.C. Starck was reportedly able to strengthen its powder business by gaining market share for high-capacity tantalum powders and expanding its niobium business significantly. In the business segment of fabricated products and components, H.C. Starck responded to strong demand from the semiconductor industry and the chemical processing industry. In addition, the company expanded into the rapidly growing market of high-temperature furnaces with the production of highly complex heat shields and crucibles made of molybdenum and tungsten for sapphire furnaces used in LED production.